Brendan Rodgers hopes for ‘energetic’ Liverpool display against Man Utd

Brendan Rodgers is expecting Liverpool to put in a “fresh, energetic performance” against Manchester United after the Reds boss rested key players for their midweek trip to Young Boys.

Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina and Luis Suárez were among the big names omitted from the 20-man travelling party who won 5-3 in Berne ahead of the north west derby on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a full-strength side for their 1-0 victory over Galatasaray on Wednesday, and Rodgers is hoping the Reds can put in an impressive display in search of their first Premier League win.

“I think they will hopefully benefit a lot from not having to travel,” Rodgers told Liverpool’s website.

“Obviously they continued to work, but as we saw against Manchester City, we’d rested a number of players for the trip to Hearts, and in that game the players were fresh and put in a very, very good performance.

“We left a number of players behind and a lot of them will be involved in Sunday’s game from the start, and we’re really looking forward to seeing them put in a fresh, energetic performance.”

Rodgers will be involved his first Liverpool-United clash since replacing Kenny Dalglish as the Reds manager in May.

The 39-year-old is relishing the encounter, and the Northern Irishman is desperate to see the Merseyside outfit collect their first three points of the campaign.

“I’m very much looking forward to it – it’s a game I’ve grown up watching all of my life,” he added.

“Two massive clubs and it’s a great opportunity [for me] to be involved in such a game.

“But, first and foremost, it’s a great opportunity for us as a club to commemorate and to pay tribute to the families and the people involved with Hillsborough, and show and pay our respects to the families at the game.

“Hopefully we can then go on and get three points, which would set off what would hopefully be a great day for us.”

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